Meg Mackintosh and the Mystery at the Soccer Match (2 page)

“Look at the stuff she's got in here,” Alex muttered to himself. “Magnifying glass, instant camera, notebook, binoculars, flashlight. There's even a message in code.”

He picked up a pencil and started working on the code. “If I could decode the message, I'd really surprise Meg!” he said.

CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE?

Just then it started to sprinkle, so Alex packed up Meg's detective kit, except for her binoculars, which he used to follow the fancy footwork on the field.

The Hawks were still on the attack. Meg passed the ball to Carmen, who drove at the goal, but Peter and the Panthers turned the ball back. A moment later, the Panthers scored!

“The Panthers will get that medal yet,” Peter called to Meg. “I can see it now — in my new display case — on my bureau,” he teased.

“Not if I can help it,” Meg retorted.

“Come on, Meg,” Carmen nudged her. “It's no use arguing with Peter, especially in front of everyone.”

The light rain made the field slippery and a few moments later Peter slid as he reached for the ball. He collided with his teammate Heather, scraping his wrist and her knee.

“Just a bit of skin,” Peter said through gritted teeth as he pulled off his bloody goalie glove.

The whistle blew time out and replacements for Peter and Heather ran onto the field. Meg and Carmen were sent back to the sidelines, too.

“Heather,” the Panther coach called out. “Get your knee checked out, and get rid of that gum!”

“Oooops,” Heather whispered to Peter.

On their way to First Aid, Heather and Peter stopped at the awards table. Meg could just hear their conversation from the sidelines.

“Talk about heavy metal,” Peter joked, holding up the award.

“My dad almost won a medal like this a long time ago,” Heather told Peter.

Heather's dad joined them. “The Panthers are
sure to win it today,” he boasted as he cracked open a peanut. “Now, Heather, you've got to get tough! You want to win that medal, don't you?”

“I don't think they should give out awards. It's not fair for everyone, and feelings get hurt,” said Alex's mom. “My petition recommends that neither team receive the gold medal. If it were up to me, I'd get rid of it right now!”

Heather's dad just gave her a funny look. “We should at least cover the table so the awards don't get soaked. I'll go get a blanket from my car,” he volunteered.

“I guess I could hold my umbrella over the table until you get back,” Alex's mom offered.

“Remember, Heather,” her dad told her as he left for the car, “Be sure to ask your coach if you can get right back in the game.”

“Okay,” said Heather. But once her dad was out of earshot Heather said to Peter, “I don't want to play anymore. But if we don't win the medal, my dad will be really disappointed.”

Heather's dad returned with the blanket, and the four of them covered the table. Then the two parents went to watch the game with the other spectators while Heather and Peter went on to First Aid.

Meanwhile the Hawks and Panthers crisscrossed the field. When the halftime whistle blew, the two teams returned to the sidelines. The Hawks were still in the lead — but barely.

Near the end of the half-time break, the sun came out, and Heather's dad returned to the uncover the awards table. Suddenly he let out a yell that sounded like it came over a loud speaker.

“The gold medal is gone!” he cried.